World Cup & Player Sex Bans

Does Cristiano Ronaldo Have To Keep His Hands Off Irina Shayk During The World Cup?

When major sporting events come around, people tend to get a little superstitious. Whether it’s carrying around a rabbit’s foot or sporting that lucky jersey you haven’t washed since your team took gold 10 years ago, sports fans partake in some odd behavior in the interest of supporting their team.

While you may be subjected to a decade’s worth of a friend’s stench wafting through your living room during the big game, many athletes suffer much greater consequences: NO SEX.

While abstaining from sex before sporting events is an ancient tradition, discussion surrounding the outdated practice resurfaced after Miguel Herrera, coach of Mexico’s soccer team, told media sources he forbid his team from having sex during this year’s World Cup.

Since Herrera’s announcement, many other Cup coaches have made statements pertaining to their restrictions on romping. Other teams that will reportedly not be allowed to engage in extra-curricular activities include Chile, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana and South Korea. (So, as far as we know, Irina Shayk has nothing to worry about.)

So, should you be worried if your team isn’t hopping on the abstinence train?

Doubtful.

The “no sex for success” theory was disproven in a study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness back in 1995. Researchers found that a subject’s physical performance on a treadmill remained consistent whether or not they engaged in sexual activities 12 hours prior to testing.

They concluded that sex burns about as many calories as 20 minutes of yard work and should have no detrimental physical effect on healthy people (i.e. professional soccer players). Despite being negated by reputable sources, this inconvenient myth lives on. Some coaches, however, believe that a little action between the sheets never hurt nobody — unless it’s particularly acrobatic. Brazilian soccer stars, for example, are free to have sex during the tournament as long as they don’t try too hard to impress.

Earlier this year, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari told media sources, “The players can have normal sex during the World Cup. Usually normal sex is done in a balanced way, but some like to perform acrobatics. We will put limits and survey the players.”

Which teams have no set restrictions? The United States national team has been awarded free reign by manager Jurgen Klinsmann when it comes to sex. Other sexually liberated teams include Italy, Australia, Uruguay and Argentina.

Too busy watching the game to get busy with your partner? Turns out that you're not alone: Sex toy sales spike during major sporting events.